Publications by authors named "Mb Drakulovic"

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen in Serbia, where it has been detected as a cause of infection in humans since 2012. We analyzed and modelled WNV transmission patterns in the country between 2012 and 2023.

Methods: We applied a previously developed modelling approach to quantify epidemiological parameters of interest and to identify the most important environmental drivers of the force of infection (FOI) by means of statistical analysis in the human population in the country.

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In Europe, surveillance indicates that the 2018 West Nile fever transmission season started earlier than in previous years and with a steeper increase of locally-acquired human infections. Between 2014 and 2017, European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and EU enlargement countries notified five to 25 cases in weeks 25 to 31 compared with 168 cases in 2018. Clinicians and public health authorities should be alerted to ensure timely implementation of prevention measures including blood safety measures.

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Background: Representative national data of prevalence of anemia and casual factors are missing for population group of reproductive aged non-pregnant females in Serbia. The purpose of the current study was to assess the prevalence and grades of anemia and its association with risk factors among non-pregnant women of childbearing age in Serbia.

Methods: Data were collected as part of the first "National Health Survey", a cross-sectional, multistage cluster survey, conducted on 677 households in Serbia.

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Introduction: To diagnose and assess chronic respiratory failure in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the measurement of arterial blood gases (ABG) is required. It has been suggested that ABG be determined for this purpose when FEV1 ranges between 50% and 30% predicted, but these thresholds are not evidence-based.

Objective: To identify the post-bronchodilator (BD) FEV₁ and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) values that provide the best sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio (LR) for the diagnosis of hypoxaemic and/or hypercapnic chronic respiratory failure in stable COPD.

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Background: Anemia in school-age children is an important public health problem and available data of its prevalence and existing risk factors are essential for planning preventive strategies. The purpose of the current study was to assess the prevalence of and the risk factors associated with anemia among the school-age children 7-14 years years old in Serbia.

Methods: In the 2000 National Health Survey, a cross-sectional, multistage cluster survey, performed in 1688 private and refugee campuses households across the territory of Serbia a total of 525 cases were recruited.

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Background: Colonization is an important risk factor for consecutive infection, but little is known about incidence and initial pattern on admission to respiratory intensive care units (RICU).

Objective: To study the bacterial colonization during the first 24 h after admission to a RICU.

Methods: Endotracheal aspirates, gastric juice, and pharyngeal and rectal swabs of 55 consecutive patients were cultured (45 men, age 66 +/- 14 years, APACHE II 20.

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Background: Risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux and subsequent aspiration, can be reduced by semirecumbent body position in intensive-care patients. The objective of this study was to assess whether the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia can also be reduced by this measure.

Methods: This trial was stopped after the planned interim analysis.

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